Web winding apparatus including means for preventing spill of the web



March 17, 1970 A. J. PROCOP 3,501,111

WEB WINDING APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING SPILL OF THE WEB Filed July 5, 1968 4 SheetsSheet 1 FIG! I8 22 Q 45b 45 455 2? & 32 66 l 52 q 9 360 57 65 INVENTOR. ALEX J. PROCOP BY a j j m MM;

ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1970 A. J. PROCOP 3,501,111

' WEB WINDING APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING SPILL OF THE WEB Filed July 5, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. ALEX J. PROCOP ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1970 A. J. PROCOP 3,501,111

WEB WINDING APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING SPILL OF THE WEB Filed July 5, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 IO I9 7 29 580 .260 :4 is 58 mm; 26

INVENTOR. ALEX J. PROCOP BY- 9MMZ M; an?

ATTORNEYS.

March 17, 1970 A. J. PROCOP 3,501,111

WEB WINDING APPARATUS INCLUDING MEANS FOR PREVENTING SPILL OF THE WEB Filed July 5, 1968 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 FIG? 4 FIGS INVENTOR. 4 ALEX J. PROCOP BY MJM J #MQMMLP ATTORNEYS.

United States Patent US. Cl. 242-202 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The moving picture projector has take-up and supply spindles. First and second rollers of diameters different from each other are shiftably mounted adjacent the takeup spindle for being brought into alternate driving engagement with the latter. Third and fourth rollers of diameters different from each other are shiftably mounted adjacent the supply spindle for alternate driving engagement with the same. A drive system including a series of belts is provided for rotating all of these rollers. A manually-operated linkage system is provided for selectively locating one of the rollers in driving engagement with the associated spindle for establishing one of a plurality of operational modes. A braking or stopping action is achieved by operating the linkage system to bring the first and third rollers into engagement with respective take-up and supply spindles just prior to disengaging the drive to the rollers. The direction of rotation of the first and third rollers is such that both the take-up and supply spindles are momentarily urged in a web-winding direction thereby to make the film taut and prevent spilling of the same from either the take-up or supply reels mounted on the spindles.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This application is a continuation-in-part of my application filed Mar. 2, 1967, Ser. No. 619,992. The present invention has particular, although not exclusive, application to moving picture film handling mechanism and constitutes an improvement over the film handling mechanism disclosed and claimed in the aforesaid application. In particular, the present invention has to do with new and improved mechanism for preventing spilling of the film from either of the reels when switching from the fast forward or rewind modes of operation to an off or stop position.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION A primary object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved mechanism in a web-winding system wherein a pair of reels are alternately driven for winding the web on one reel from the other and vice versa, such mechanism causing both of the reels momentarily to be urged in a web-winding direction just prior to disengaging the drive to both of the reels, thereby to prevent spilling of the web from either of the reels.

Another object of the present invention is the provision of new and improved film handling mechanism in a moving picture projector, such mechanism preventing spill of the film from either of the take-up or supply reels upon actuation of the projector control knob to an off or stop position from either the fast forward or frewind modes of operation.

Still another object of the present invention is the provision of a new and improved web-winding or handling mechanism of the type described, which mechanism is of simple and trouble-free construction and which may be economically manufactured.

These and other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following specification disclosing a preferred embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the mechanism of the present invention shown as adapted for use in a moving picture projector, the various parts being shown in the position they occupy when the projector control knob is either in an off or stop position;

FIG. 2 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy when the projector control knob is in the forward position;

FIG. 3 is a similar view showing the various parts in the position they occupy when the control knob is in the reverse position;

FIG. 4 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy when the projector control knob is in the fast forward position;

FIG. 5 is a similar view showing the parts in the position they occupy when the control knob is in the rewind position;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to the above mentioned figures, but showing only the linkage system for actuating the various drive rollers;

FIGS. 7 and 8 are respectively front and rear, enlarged, elevational views of a cam having a cam surface on the rear thereof for actuating the linkage to shift a pair of rollers associated with the supply spindle or reel;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are respectively front and rear elevational views of a cam having a cam surface on the rear face thereof for swinging a roller in the drive system thereby to deactivate and re-establish the latter;

FIGS. 11 and 12 are respectively front and rear elevational views of a cam having a cam surface on the rear thereof for actuating linkage which shifts rollers associated with the take-up spindle or reel; and

FIG. 13 is a reduced, side elevational view of the cam shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1 through 5, a supply spindle 10 in the form of a wheel or disk is rotatably mounted by a projector housing plate 12 for supporting a supply reel (not shown). At this time it should be mentioned that reference should be had to the aforementioned application, Ser. No. 619,992, for an understanding of the various components of the moving picture projector which are not shown or described herein. However, in this connection it will be understood the present invention is not to be limited for use only in association with the motion picture projector shown in said application. The present invention has applicability with other projectors as well as other types of apparatus which have reels or spools for winding a web from one of the reels to the other and vice versa.

A plate 14 is pivotally mounted on a pin 15, the latter being supported from the housing wall 12. Plate 14 rotatably mounts a roller 16 which is arranged to have its periphery brought into driving engagement with the periphery of the spindle when the plate 14 is shifted in a clockwise direction about the pin 15. The Plate 14 also rotatably mounts a small roller 18, this roller being arranged to have its periphery brought into driving engagement with the periphery of the spindle 10 when the plate 14 is shifted in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 15. The roller 18 is mounted for rotation with a larger roller 19, the latter being driven from a belt 20 which is crossed upon itself and trained around a hub 16a integral with the roller 16.

The projector includes a take-up spindle 22 rotatably mounted by the housing plate 12, which spindle mounts a suitable take-up reel (not shown). A plate 23 is rotatably mounted on a pin 24; this pin is supported from the housing plate 12. Plate 23 rotatably mounts a roller 26 arranged for having its periphery brought into driving engagement with the periphery of the spindle 22 upon rotation of the plate 23 in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 24. The plate 23 also rotatably mounts a small roller 27 which is arranged to have its periphery brought into driving engagement with the periphery of the spindle 22 when the plate 23 is shifted in a clockwise direction about the pin 24. The small roller 27 is mounted for rotation with a larger roller 29, the latter being engaged at its periphery by a belt 30 which is trained around a hub portion 26a integral with the roller 26. A coil-tension spring 32 has one of its ends connected to a bracket 33 which is mounted by fastener 34; this fastener is mounted from the housing plate 12. The other end of the spring 32 is connected to the plate 23 for urging the latter in a clockwise direction about the pin 24.

An arm 36 is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends about a pin 37, the later being supported by suitable bracket means (not shown). The lower end of this arm includes a cam-following surface 38 (FIG. 6). The other or upper end of the arm 36 includes a slot 39 receiving the shank portion of a fastener 40 which is suitably supported from the projector wall 12. The fastener 40 fixedly mounts a bracket 42 which supports one end of a coil-tension spring 43. The other end of this spring is connected to the plate 14 for urging the latter in a countercolckwise direction about pin 15. The upper end of the arm 36 is defined by a pair of extensions 36a, 36b, the former being arranged to abut the plate 14 for rocking the latter in a clockwise direction about the pin 15.

Referring particularly to FIG. 6, a cross-arm 45 is mounted for horizontal reciprocal movement, and to this end includes a pair of slots 45a, 45b slidably received on the shank portions of respective fasteners 34, 36, which fasteners are suitably mounted from the projector housing wall or plate 12. A coil spring 48 has respective opposite ends thereof connected to the cross-arm 45 and to the wall 12 for constantly urging the cross-bar to the left as shown in the drawings. The cross-bar carries a pin 50 at one end thereof, this pin being adapted to engage an edge of the plate 23 for rocking the latter in a counterclockwise direction about the pin 24 when the cross-arm 45 is moved to the left. The other end of the cross-arm 45 is pivotally engaged with the upper end of an arm 52, which arm is pivotally mounted about a pin 53. This pin is mounted from the wall 12 of the projector. (The arm 52 is not engaged or connected with the pin 37 mounting the arm 36.) The lower end of the arm 52 includes a cam-following surface 54.

The roller 16 has its periphery suitably grooved for receiving a belt 56 which is trained around a hub 57 integral with a gear wheel 58, which gear is rotatably mounted from the housing plate 12. Wheel 58 is engaged by a belt 60 which also engages a hub 61 integral with a drive wheel 62, the latter being rotatably mounted from the plate 12, Gear 58 includes a peripheral series of gear teeth 58a in meshing engagement with a peripheral series of teeth 64a on a gear wheel 64. This gear wheel,

which is rotatably mounted from the plate 12. includes an integral, smaller-in-diameter hub 65 which is engaged by a belt 66, this belt also being received in a groove formed in the periphery of the roller 26.

Drive gear 62 is engaged by a belt 68, which belt is trained around a movably mounted drive roller 70, the latter being rotatably mounted from one end of an arm 71 (FIG. 6). The roller 70 is driven from a belt 72, which belt is driven from a drive roller 74 mounted on the output shaft of a suitable electric drive motor (not shown).

As noted in FIG. 6, spring 75 has opposite ends thereof secured to the plate 12 and to the distal end of the arm 71 for urging the latter and the roller 71 in an upward direction. As will be explained hereinbelow, the arm 71 is controlled by cam means for either urging the roller 70 downwardly to maintain the belt 68 taut thereby to drive the wheel 62 from the wheel 70 or allowing the roller 70 to be urged upwardly to de-activate or disable the drive established by the belt 68. In one mode of operation the wheel 70 is allowed to move upwardly bringing the periphery thereof (or the belt 72) into engagement with the gear 62 for rotating the same in an opposite direction.

As noted in FIG. 6, the arm 71 includes an integral, depending extension 77 pivotally mounted on a pin 78, which pin is supported either from the wall 12 or by suitable bracket means (not shown). The arm 71 has connected thereto a cam follower in the form of a bentspring wire having legs 80a, 8% connected by a bight portion 800, the latter being suitably secured to the arm 71.

Referring to FIGS. 6 and 13, a control member, generally designated 92, has integral, coaxial, oppositely extending shaft portions 93, 94 which are suitably journaled thereby to mount the member 92 for rotation about a horizontal axis perpendicular to the plane of the projector wall 12. The control member 92 is mounted such that the shaft portion 94 occupies a near position and the shaft portion 93 occupies a far position, this being with reference to FIG. 6. In the following description of the various cams, the terminology near and far has reference to the near and far sides as seen looking at FIG. 6.

The shaft portion 94 of the control member 92 has a flat wall or side 94a. The shaft portion 93 has at the outer end thereof an eccentrically disposed extension 95 with a flat surface 9511, this extension being adapted to mount a control knob (not shown) for manual rotation of the control member 92.

Mounted on the shaft portion 94 adjacent the distal end thereof is a cam 97 as seen in FIGS. 7 and 8. This cam has a central opening 98 with a fiat side 98a thereby to mount the cam 97 on the control member 92 for being rotated thereby. The near side of the cam 97 includes a continuous cam track 100 which receives a cam follower (not shown) for operation of an electric control switch which is shown and described in the aforesaid application. The far side of the cam 97 includes an integral formation 102 defining a cam surface 102a; it is against this cam surface that the cam follower 3 8 rides.

Mounted on the shaft portion '94 adjacent the cam 97 is another cam 104 illustrated in FIGS. 9 and 10. The cam 104 includes a central opening 105 having a flat side 105a thereby mounting the cam 104 on the control member 92 for being rotated thereby. The far side of the cam includes an integral formation 106 having a cam surface 106a, the latter including a recessed portion 106b, With reference to FIGS. 6 and 10, it will be understood the formation 106 is engaged by the spring arm 80a, the latter riding on the cam surfaces 106a, 106b.

Turning now to FIGS. 11 through 13, the control member 92 includes an integral cam 108 adjacent the near side thereof. This cam engages a linkage member (not shown) for opening and closing the projector gate; for an understanding of this mechanism, reference should be had to the aforementioned application. The control member 92 includes an integral cam formation 110 adjacent the far side from the cam formation 108. The cam formation 110 includes a cam surface 110a; this cam surface is engaged by the cam follower 54 on the arm 52. Finally, the control member 92 includes an integral cam formation 112 adjacent the far side of the cam formation 110. The cam formation 112 is provided to operate a heat-shield member (not shown) which is used when the control knob is moved to a still position, this heat shield serving to prevent damage to the film when the projector is in this mode of operation. Reference should be had to the aforementioned application for a complete understanding of this heat-shield construction.

The several cams are illustrated in FIGS. 7, 9 and 11 in the position they occupy when the control knob on the extension 95 of the control member 92 is in an off position. These cams are rotatable through the following positions proceeding counterclockwise from the off position with reference to FIGS. 6, 7, 9 and 11: forward, still, reverse, stop, fast forward, stop and rewind. It will be understood these various positions are substantially uniformly, arcuately spaced from each other, i.e., approximately 45 apart. Both the fast forward and rewind control positions are located between stop and ofl or stop positions; this is of significance as the present invention has to do primarily with preventing spill of film from the reels as the control member is shifted from either the fast forward or rewind position to one of the off or stop positions.

When the control member 102 is in the off position just mentioned, the linkage will be arranged as illustrated in FIG. 1 with the rollers 16 and 26 in engagement with respective spindles and 22 thereby holding the latter stationary. In the off position, the motor is not energized and the roller is allowed to be urged upwardly for causing the belt 68 to become slack; therefore the various belts are not driven.

As the control member is rotated through approximately in a counterclockwise direction, the forward position is established and the arrangement of the linkage will be as shown in FIG. 2. This movement of the control member cams the arm 36 clockwise thereby to disengage the roller 16 from the spindle 10. This movement of the member 92 also shifts the cross-arm 45 to the right allowing the opening 32 to swing the small roller 27 into driving engagement with t e take-up spindle 22 for rotating the latter in a direction to wind film on the takeup reel. Movement of the control member to the forward position cams the arm 71 downwardly to tighten the belt 68 thereby to establish a driving relationship between the wheels 70 and 62. Movement of the control member away from the off position operates the switching mechanism to energize the motor which drives the drive roller 74-.

When the control member 92 is swung through the next 45 of counterclockwise movement, the still position is established. In this position or mode of operation, the linkage will be as shown in FIG. 1, except that the roller 70 will be cammed upwardly slightly to release tension on the belt 68 thereby to deactivate or disable the drive means to the various rollers. In the still position, the rollers 16, 26 are in respective engagement with the spindles 10, 22 thereby to hold both reels from rotating.

Rotation of the control member 92 through another 45 in a counterclockwise direction establishes the reverse position shown in FIG. 3. In this position or mode of operation, the arm 36 is cammed to shift the roller 18 into driving engagement with the supply spindle 10 thereby to rotate the latter at a low rate of speed for winding film on the supply reel. The arm 52 is also cammed to shift the cross-arm 45 to the right thereby to allow the spring 32 to disengage the roller 26 from the spindle 22.

When the control member is moved to the reverse position, the arcuate distal end of the spring a (FIG.

6) is received within the cam surface 106b (FIG. 10)

thereby allowing the roller 70 to be drawn upwardly by the spring 75 and into driving engagement with the wheel 62 for rotating the latter in a direction opposite to that brought about by the drive belt 68. Because the belt 20 is crossed upon itself, the spindle 10 will be rotated in the proper direction. This reverse direction of rotation of the drive wheel 62 is necessary since in the illustrated embodiment, the latter operates the drive pawl mechanism. As is known to those skilled in the art, in the reverse mode of operation, the film is advanced through the gate in a reverse direction by the drive claw, whereas in the rewind mode of operation the film is drawn through the gate in a reverse direction but at a fast rate of speed and in a manner such that the film is not engaged by the drive claw.

Rotation of the control member through another 45 increment of movement in a clockwise direction establishes a stop position or mode of operation. In such mode of operation, the linkage will be as shown in FIG. 1 with the rollers 16 and 26 in respective engagement with the spindles 10, 22. In this stop position, the roller 70 is allowed to be urged upwardly slightly by the spring 75 such that the belt 68 is slackened and thereby the drive train is deactivated.

When the control member 92 is rotated through another 45 to the fast forward position, the arms 36, 52 are cammed to establish the linkage as shown in FIG. 4. In the fast forward position, the roller 70 will be cammed downwardly tightening the belt 68 and thereby reestablishing the drive to the various belts. The roller 26 is in driving engagement with the take-up spindle thereby to drive the take-up reel at a fast rate for fast windings of the film thereon.

When the control member is now rotated in either direction to one of the stop positions, the arrangement of the linkage shown in FIG. 1 will be established and the roller 70 will be cammed upwardly slightly to slacken the belt 68 and thereby deactivate the drive to the various belts. However, the engagement between the rollers 16, 26 and respective spindles 10, 22 will be established just prior to slackening of the belt 68 thereby momentarily to urge the spindles 10, 22 in film-winding directions. This tends to make the film taut and to prevent spilling of the latter from either of the reels when switching from the fast forward position to either of the stop positions. It will be appreciated that the spindles 10, 22 may be momentarily urged in film-winding directions because both the rollers 16, 26 are rotating in opposite directions in the embodiment shown for purposes of illustration.

When the control member is rotated to the rewin position, the arrangement of the linkage is as shown in FIG. 5. The roller 70 is again cammed downwardly slightly to tighten the belt 68 thereby to re-establish the drive train. In the rewind position, the roller 26 is disengaged from the spindle 22 and the large diameter roller 16 is brought into driving engagement with the supply spindle 10 thereby to rotate the latter at a fast rate for rewinding the film thereon.

When the control member is moved from the rewind position either to the adjacent stop position or to the off position, the linkage will be shifted as shown in FIG. 1 and the roller 70 will be cammed upwardly slightly to slacken the drive belt 68. Again, the rollers 16, 26 will be brought into engagement with the spindles 10, 22 just prior to slackening of the belt 68, thereby momentarily to urge both the spindles 10, 22 in film-winding directions. This reslts in making the film taut thereby to prevent spilling of the latter when switching from the rewind position to either the off position or the adjacent stop position.

Therefore, it is seen that according to the present invention, when moving the control member from either of the fast modes of operation, that is either rewind or fast forward, the oppositely rotating rollers 16, 26 are brought into engagement with the respective spindles just prior to deactivating the drive through the various belts. This results in both the take-up and supply reels being momentarily urged in film-Winding directions thereby to prevent spilling of the film from either of the reels when switching from these fast modes of operation. The rollers 16, 26 act as brakes thereby to restrain the spindles 10, 22 against movement when the drive through the various belts has been deactivated by slackening of the belt 68, the friction in the drive train from the gear 62 to the rollers 16, 26 providing adequate braking action.

I claim:

1. In a drive system for a pair of reels wherein such reels are alternately driven for winding a web on one reel from the other and vice versa, the improvement comprising:

(a) drive means for rotating one of said reels in a direction for winding the web thereon;

(b) the other of said reels having a spindle;

(c) a roller mounted adjacent said spindle;

(d) shiftable means for moving said roller into and out of driving engagement with said spindle;

(e) said drive means including means for rotating said roller simultaneously with said one reel and in a direction such that the roller, when engaged with said spindle, will rotate the other reel in a direction for winding the web thereon;

(f) disabling means for deactivating said drive means;

and

(g) control means associated with said shiftable means and said disabling means for sequentially operating the same to bring said roller into engagement with said spindle just prior to deactivating the drive means thereby momentarily to urge said other reel in a Web-winding direction.

2. In a drive system for a pair of reels wherein such reels are alternately driven for winding a web on one reel from the other and vice versa, the improvement comprising:

(a) each of said reels including a spindle;

(b) a pair of drive rollers mounted adjacent respective spindles;

(c) support means independently mounting each roller for movement into and out of driving engagement with the associated spindle;

((1) drive means for simultaneously rotating both of said rollers in directions such that when each of the rollers is in engagement with the respective spindle the associated reel is driven in a direction for winding the web thereon;

(e) disabling means for deactivating said drive means;

(f) shiftable means connected to said support means and being adapted in a first mode to move said rollers alternately into engagement with respective spindles, said shiftable means being adapted in a second mode to move either of said rollers into engagement with the associated spindles such that both of the rollers are simultaneously engaged with respective spindles; and

(g) control means associated with said disabling means and said shiftable means for sequentially operating the same to establish the second mode of said shiftable means just prior to deactivating said drive means thereby momentarily to urge both of said reels in Web-winding directions.

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said drive means includes a pair of wheels in peripheral engagement with each other for rotation in opposite directions, and a pair of belts connecting said wheels with said drive rollers, respectively.

4. In a drive system for the take-up and supply reels of a movie picture projector, the improvement compris- (a) each of said reels including a spindle;

(b) first and second rollers of diameters different from each other and mounted on a first support, the latter being mova-bly mounted for alternately placing said rollers into driving engagement with one of said spindles;

(c) third and fourth rollers of diameters different from each other and mounted on a second support, the latter being movably mounted for alternately placing the third and fourth rollers into driving engagement with the other of said spindles;

(d) shiftable means connected to said first and second supports and adapted in a plurality of first operational modes for moving any one of said rollers into engagement with the associated spindle, said shiftable means being adapted in a second operational mode to place said first and third rollers into driving engagement With respective spindles at the same time; and

(e) drive means for rotating all of said rollers.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 further defined by:

(a) said drive means including means for simultaneously rotating said first and third rollers in directions such that the latter, when engaged with respective spindles, serve to rotate both of the reels in Web-winding directions;

(b) disabling means for deactivating said drive means;

and

(c) control means associated with said shiftable means and said disabling means for sequentially operating the same to establish said second operational mode just prior to deactivating the drive means thereby momentarily to urge both of said reels in web-winding directions.

6. The improvement according to claim 4 further defined by:

(a) said drive means including first belt means for rotating said first and third rollers in opposite directions, and other belt means for rotating said second and fourth rollers in the same direction as said third roller; and

(b) said drive means also including selectively operable reversible input means for alternately rotating all of said rollers in clockwise and counterclockwise directions.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said one spindle rotates the supply reel.

8. The improvement according to claim 4 further defined by:

(a) said drive means including first and second wheels in peripheral engagement with each other for rotation in opposite directions;

(b) a first belt connecting one of said wheels with said one roller;

(0) a second belt connecting the other of said wheels with said third roller;

(d) a third belt connecting said first and second rollers;

(e) a fourth belt connecting said third and fourth rollers; and

(f) reversible input means connected with one of said wheels for selectively driving the same in opposite directions, said belts being arranged such that when said one Wheel is driven in one diretcion said first roller is rotated in the same direction and the other of said rollers are rotated in opposite directions.

9. The improvement according to claim 8 further defined by:

(a) disabling means connected with said reversible input means for deactivating the same; and

(b) control means associated with said shiftable means and said disabling means for sequentially operating the same to establish said second operational mode 9 10 just prior to deactivating said input means thereby 2,920,148 1/1960 Munroe 179-1002 momentarily to urge both of said reels in opposite 2,946,531 7/1960 Hinchman 242-5512 directions at the same time.

LEONARD D. CHRISTIAN, Primary Examiner 5 US. (:1. X.R.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,782,263 2/1957 Hoehn et a1. 179100.2 2,907,531 10/1959 Badgley 242-55.12 

